Thousands of residents visited a decked-out downtown New Canaan on Friday night for the Chamber of Commerce‘s 12th Annual Holiday Stroll.

Signaling the start of the holiday season in New Canaan, the Stroll featured visits from Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch, gingerbread houses decorated by local kids in the windows of shops that stayed open late and put out special items for patrons, carols and other musical performances on a stage in the Pop Up Park and s’mores from the Kiwanis Club, which also manned a fire pit.

Running 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the Stroll will feature photo ops with Santa at Houlihan Lawrence, a selfie booth thanks to Bankwell in New Canaan, performances by New Canaan Dance Academy as well as the Norwalk Symphony Brass Ensemble. There also will be an ice sculptor will creating and carving, thanks to Callari Auto Group.